As I contemplated how on Earth I was going to start the nature awareness section of the Dedicant's Program, I began to think about what the word “nature,” means. When people say they want to get out into nature, what they really mean is that they feel a need to drive out of the city for an hour, and stop out in some area with fewer people or cars. My first thought was, “There is no way I’m going to use gas so that I can observe nature with less people.” The thought of driving to “be in nature” seemed counter to the whole reason for the nature awareness section of the DP. This is when I ran across the book, “Suburban Safari: A Year on the Lawn,” by Hannah Holmes. This book allowed me to confirm my rather sneaking suspicions that, yes, the backyard and city are also a part of nature. I readied myself to spend at least a year in my own backyard, and learn its various micro-environments.
As the year progressed I began to get to know the local squirrel population very well. Their various calls of distress, checking in with each other, or of playing became the background music of my time outside. I had my heart broken when my of the little ones showed up with a missing paw, and most of his tail gone. I left special seed offerings out for him, but after a few months (just long enough for me to hope that he might make it), he stopped coming. I watched them make their messy nests high up in the branches, and laughed as small little rambunctious babes began their playful chases up and down the tree trunks. The mothers would chuck an alarm when they saw me, calling the wee ones back up to the nest, but after a bit I didn’t hear that as much.
As the year progressed I began to get to know the local squirrel population very well. Their various calls of distress, checking in with each other, or of playing became the background music of my time outside. I had my heart broken when my of the little ones showed up with a missing paw, and most of his tail gone. I left special seed offerings out for him, but after a few months (just long enough for me to hope that he might make it), he stopped coming. I watched them make their messy nests high up in the branches, and laughed as small little rambunctious babes began their playful chases up and down the tree trunks. The mothers would chuck an alarm when they saw me, calling the wee ones back up to the nest, but after a bit I didn’t hear that as much.
I also set apart a smallish part of the yard to be a “wild” zone. Here I planted species of plants that are indigenous to the prairie, and was immediately astounded by its beauty. A number of different types of wildlife, that I never knew lived in the city, began to use that area. Bright yellow American Goldfinches soon began perching atop the coneflowers, picking seeds from the stiff heads. Black Capped Chickadees and Cardinals also became more common visitors. We started getting so many different types of birds, that I felt a need to buy an Audubon Guide to help the kids and myself identify our visitors. The finches were later joined in September by the flittering and quick dance of hummingbirds. Those flying jewels often forewent the feeders I hung in response to their unexpected appearance, and seemed to prefer the tall yellow flowers. Toads began making little hovel homes in the thick low growth, much to the local cat population’s pleasure. My local insect populations also exploded. The best part of this was the Blue Swallowtail butterflies that laid eggs, cocooned, and fluttered about the yard. So much beauty and nourishment for my soul because of this mini-eco-system!
To be a better steward of what has been given me, I twisted my husband’s willing arm into hanging a clothes line out in the back yard. The clothes line not only reduced energy wasted on the dryer, but also gave me more time outside to experience the wild life of my own backyard. We now rarely use the clothes dryer since my husband has also put up a line in our basement for when we cannot use the one outside. We are hoping to eventually get a high efficiency washer so that we can reduce our water and energy consumption. Till we can afford that, water stewardship is being accomplished by two, 50 gallon rain barrels that give water to my thirsty garden beds.
My yard has become a retreat in such a short amount of time. I am glad that I have started this path, and hope to continue to get to know my own yard better. Who knows, maybe the Bald Eagle I saw one day flying overhead will return.
My yard has become a retreat in such a short amount of time. I am glad that I have started this path, and hope to continue to get to know my own yard better. Who knows, maybe the Bald Eagle I saw one day flying overhead will return.
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